A battery that provides 100 percent capacity at 80°F will typically deliver only 50 percent at 0°F. All batteries achieve optimum service life if used at 68°F.~~~~ Keeping the cabin warm is more dependent on the engine than the battery .. all the other car functions using electricity are usually supplied by the alternator while the engine is running so the battery is not a concern unless your in a storm using Headlights,wipers, heater blower , rear defrost etc, then it could become marginal if your batteries condition requires heavy charging ..it all adds up when you total the currents. Say you have an 80 amp alternator ... so 80 amps is the best you can expect to get before the Battery is required.... so if the total current is 90 amps ( very unlikely),, you will get 80 amps from your alternator and the additional 10 amps will come from the battery. ~ ~~ ~ ~ Unlike the cold where most of the wear and tear is done sitting and starting (once the engine compartment gets warm you won't put that much strain other then if you get stuck ,,, that;s brutal on an engine and transmission) ,,, In areas with excessive heat everything in a car is strained to the limit. The most critical area on a cars engine is the radiator. WATER CAN'T BOIL UNDER PRESSURE ,,, that's critical because you can't cool an engine with steam ,,, of course you can't have unlimited pressure in the radiator because you will blow it up,,, so they limit the pressure to 15 lbs (some nuke plants run at well over 3000 lbs) at 15 lbs pressure water won't boil until around 290 F .... That is why if you remove a radiator cap the 290F water just went to atmospheric where water boils at 212F and your faced with a couple gallons of coolant that was to boil instantly ,,, not a pretty picture ~~~~~~~~~~~ Here are typical currents on standard car accessories ~ Lights Headlights (high beam) 10-22 Headlights (low beam) 40 Tail Lights 8 Safety Emergency brake light 4 Emergency flasher 15 Turn signals 10-15 Windshield wipers 6-20 Horn 15 Brake lights 15-20 Running lights 8 Ignition Winter starting 225-500 Summer starting 100-400 Approx. Avg. 300 Courtesy Cigarette lighter 15-20 Interior lights 10-15 Instrument panel lights 4 Entertainment Radio 10 Stereo Tape 10 Electric antenna 20 Comfort Air conditioner 10 Heater 20-30 Defroster 15-30 Electric seat 20 Electric windows 20-30 TYPICAL ACCESSORY CURRENT DRAW (AMPS)
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